WP: Miers Makes Rounds On Hill (& displays her ignorance)

[kskiska]

(snip)

Her relatively thin paper trail adds greater importance to her personal meetings with senators and to the committee hearing that is expected to begin in about three weeks. While generally well received, Miers has had a few awkward moments, including one during her Wednesday session with Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

In an initial chat with Miers, according to several people with knowledge of the exchange, Leahy asked her to name her favorite Supreme Court justices. Miers responded with "Warren" -- which led Leahy to ask her whether she meant former Chief Justice Earl Warren, a liberal icon, or former Chief Justice Warren Burger, a conservative who voted for Roe v. Wade . Miers said she meant Warren Burger, the sources said.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/06/AR2005100601713.html

[Jim Sagle]

1. The lady is a bozo.

[donheld]

23. We can't expect much from a woman who

Thinks * is the most intellegent man she's ever met. ::dunce:

[Jim Sagle]

63. She must ride the short bus to work.

[delhurgo]

59. This article is misleading.

I read what actually happened, she started to say Warren Burger, but was interrupted.

And she mentioned him because of his 'adminstrative skills' not because of his judicial philosophy.

[ClintonTyree]

77. Or that might be the best spin they could put on it....

I guess the only two that know for sure are Leahy and Miers.

[niceypoo]

85. This woman worships Bush as a "Genius"

Do the fuzzy
math....

[marbuc]

2. She's on a first name basis with dead SC justices?

I think she was searching her memory for a SCOTUS judge, and came up with Earl Warren, obviously the wrong choice for a conservative.

[tgnyc]

17. They used to kick it together at the soda hop back in the day.

[Zhade]

55. Soda...hop?

o.0

[Lexingtonian]

19. Ouija.

:D

[truthisfreedom]

3. ho-boy. this is gonna be good. she's so stupid she gave up her life to

worship w...

[uncle ray]

39. she's going to be the posterchild for Freepers nationwide...n/t

[grannylib]

4. I heard all I needed to hear when I read that she thinks the Imbecile

is the most brilliant man she's ever met!!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Either she's a bigger moron than he is (although I am not at ALL sure that's possible) or she's just got her head buried so far up his ass, he needs to open his mouth for her to see daylight.

[deadparrot]

5. How's she going to survive the committee hearings...

If she can't answer a question that most high-schoolers could?

[Silverhair]

69. I'm not so sure about most high schoolers being able to answer it. NT

[ClintonTyree]

78. Really.....

today's high-schoolers and even College students are woefully ignorant of the mechanizations of our government let alone the players past and present. Hell, I bet 90% of adults couldn't do it. No one cares anymore, people just ignore government and expect it to "just work" without any input ot oversight by them. This is exactly why gangs of crooks like the bush administration gain access to power, no one is paying attention.

[Gnostic]

95. Not true

The type of people you mention who are not involved in the political process and do not vote don't do so because "they just expect government to work", rather, they feel disenfranchised and isolated from it, figure their votes and opinions don't count and see absolutely no difference whatsoever between the Dems and Repugs.

And, unfortunately, they are mostly correct.

[nankerphelge]

87. yeah...

not at my high school. I'm not sure they even know we've got a Supreme Court.

[goforit]

6. The female version of Bush.......heaven help us.

[DefenseLawyer]

7. Warren Peace?

Thank you for playing, we have some lovely parting gifts for you.

[Dhalgren]

30. I think she meant Zevon (now I agree with her on something!)

[gratuitous]

82. Warren Zevon was on the Supreme Court?

Now THAT would be a case worth arguing: Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner v. Excitable Boy, 123 S Ct 97 (1998).

[Olney Blue]

93. Or... Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money!

[expatriot]

8. this is good news for choice but not so good for civil liberties imho nt

[Erika]

9. She said W was the most brilliant man she'd ever met

Shows his level of judgement. And why our country is in a world of hurt. It also shows the lack of wisdom in those who have promoted and voted for him. Coulter, Rush, Faux, and the rest of the GOP idiots.

[serryjw]

10. I'm sorry but this is not her job....

quote......
Richard D. Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. He said his fellow Texans Bush and Miers value loyalty and courage above all, adding: "If she were to rule in ways that are contrary to the way the president would want her to rule, it would be a deep personal betrayal."

What * knows about the Constitution can fill volumes

[kestrel91316]

18. Any high government official who places loyalty over ethics

needs to be hung from the highest tree.

[Jawja]

32. Uh, yes....

when do we hang Scalia?

edited for clarity

[kestrel91316]

47. Well if it were up to me .............................. teeheehee.......

[barb162]

80. yesterday

[Seabiscuit]

49. ... or flushed from the shallowest toilet bowl.

[Judi Lynn]

43. Really sad. Apparently all laws drawn before they arrived are void.n/t

[sunnystarr]

68. So much for an independant court ...

this is the issue that SHOULD sink her nomination.

[ClintonTyree]

79. I'm sure the bush White House........

would be on her speed dial and she'd check in with bushco. etal. during subsequent administrations as to the "correct" way to rule on sticky cases. I don't think she'd leave anything to chance or wouldn't want to make a mistake that would anger her overlords and the fundie nuts she supposedly represents.
I'm not saying she's incapable of making decisions on her own. She's obviously a very intelligent woman (although her bush/most intelligent comment makes one wonder) or she'd never have risen to the heights she has. I just don't think she'd want to make a mistake when the chips were down, that's why I think she'd "consult" others before making key judgments.

[MadisonProgressive]

84. Is that what judges are supposed to do?

This is just crazy. This entire administration is like seeing a flagrant foul in a football game and NO FLAG ON THE PLAY!!

[David Briggs]

11. Pathetic.

Not even a court WATCHER. Ignorant of the history of the judicial branch. I don't mind having to defeat a dogmatic-yet-learned conservative who favors a particular outcome then fashions some assinine RW opinion and cherry-picks or overtly rejects precedent in order to justify the outrageousness of it. But let's all please agree that Harriet must be defeated as simply not good enough for the job. An insult to the country. A stooge's stooge. Nice evangelical lady though?

[Erika]

13. But W, who recommended her, was elected and its his nominee

Don't elected presidents get to appoint who they want. He said he knows her well.

Are the neocons and fundies make him choose someone else. You mean his judgement is faulty? Yeah, he's about destroyed this country. Where were the neocons and fundies when he was destroying this country by ruining our image, our economy, and our hope? Now they are back with their concern? Grab me a barf bag. The neocons and fundies sold out this country.

[ClintonTyree]

81. Considering his popularity....

in the country right now the validity of any choice he makes should be brought into question. A majority of the citizens do not support this president or his agenda just 10 months after his "re-selection". If there were to be a recall election at this very minute there is no doubt in my mind that bush would lose handily to just about ANY Democrat.
Considering this, why should bush be able to chose a Supreme Court Justice that is going to have a direct bearing on jurisprudence for decades to come? The People have no faith is this president any more and his agenda is down the crapper.
I wish it were possible to recall bush before he can do more damage to this country, short term and long term.

[blue state liberal]

96. So do I

wish Bush could be recalled before he could do more damage to this country. They did that in California a few years ago when the people voted to recall then Governor Gray. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we Americans could vote to recall Bush? There are three more years left ...

[swag]

12. Paragraph immediately following those:

A Republican member of the committee, Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), said after meeting with Miers: "I think the hearings matter in her case probably more than others."

Ya think? Or maybe you could dispense with those expensive hearings altogether, Lindsey O. Graham, and just request a serious nominee.

[Erika]

15. Graham is going to buck W?

Graham and his ilk is why we have such an incompetent in office. Graham and his ilk is why this country is pretty much destroyed. Now, they are going to confront him? What a joke the GOP has turned into.

[swag]

16. I don't think she'll make it to a committee hearing.

[Lugnut]

48. I don't think she will either

Dumb and Dumber in the WH will let this nomination hang around until after the break in the action. Then she'll probably withdraw or be withdrawn making way for a real wingnut. I see this nomination as a distraction ploy.

[Montauk6]

14. She's got HIS vote!

[fob]

20. Leahy, you missed a golden opportunity to simply ask her, "Warren huh?,

Which one?" and let HER fumble for an answer!

[Stand and Fight]

35. No, Leahy did the right thing.

Call it a many game of chest. He exposed her in many ways.

1. Her ignorance.

2. The fact that she would refer to a former Chief Justice by first name.

3. The fact that her favorite Chief Justice is a conservative who voted FOR Roe v. Wade.

That little bit of information should have the extreme Right up in arms over her when this hits their airwaves. Extremely smart chess move on Leahy's part.

[MADem]

44. I'm with you

Leahy is no fool. After all, he was the recipient of the "Go Fuck Yourself" remark. If he can piss off Dick, he's got some good stuff!

[Stand and Fight]

98. I'm hoping to see more coordinated efforts.

The more Democrats like this nominee, the more the right-wing base will be opposed to her. Let's just hope we're not being borked though... You know, they can Miers and get a real extremist turd. :shrug:

[emlev]

21. Will Miers hearings reveal administration plans?

In the Roberts confirmation hearings he kept saying he couldn't answer this question or that one because the issues might come before the court. If Miers does the same, perhaps she could be asked some questions like the following, so we'd know whether to expect these issues to come up in the next few years:

Where do you stand on:

military being used to quarantine areas infected by flu pandemic?
military being used to quarantine areas affected by AIDS epidemic?
military being used to quarantine areas affected by pro-impeachment epidemic?

term limits for president?
suspension of the constitution?

awarding voting rights to corporations, since they are legally considered to be persons?

complete dismantling of the public school system?

allowing criminals to serve out their terms in the white house rather than federal prisons?

[A Simple Game]

70. I really liked your last one. n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

22. This is so sad.

At least Roberts, as stealthy and secretive as he is, is intelligent.
This lady is batshit crazy AND dumb.

[susu369]

24. Miers is blinded by visions of glory

if she had any character, she would have never accepted bu$h*'s nomination in the first place. Deep in her soul, she has to know she lacks the basic qualifications for the position. Hubris? check.

[shanti]

42. hah!

isn't that how many people get jobs, by fudging their qualifications to get their foot in the door? shoot, the chimp did it, why not miers? :eyes:

[cassiepriam]

25. She will be perfect for the job, stupid as Brownie and the rest....

[TheCowsCameHome]

26. And you would expect anything else from a person close to Bush?

[dchill]

27. Which one? Uh - uh -

Earl Warrenburgher - yeah, that one!

[MojoXN]

88. Mmmm... Earl Warrenburgers...

[zara]

28. Lewis Powell was a corporate lawyer and an ABA president

with no judicial experience before he became a supreme court justice.

why is this lady so different?

being on the supreme court should not require a judge. In fact, having a nonjudge may be a lot better. Some of the best ones were not previously judges (Earl Warren for instance.)

i think sexism and elitism is part of the hostility toward her from all sides.

but from the right, its mostly anger that she's not a frothing wingnut like Thomas or Scalia. That's what they wanted.

[Dhalgren]

34. I agree with you that a judicial background is not required, but a

clear understanding of the SC and its role is required. There is no "elitism" in wanting the most qualified person available for such an important job as Associate Justice of the SC. You don't have to have an actual bar member represent you in court, but it isn't elitist is you insist upon having one. This woman has been put forward to represent each and every citizen of the US in the interpretation of the Constitution and the application of Law, it isn't "elitist" to ask that such representatives be very well qualified.

[klyon]

74. well said, ...........some things matter because they are important

I would have thought having basic mental and speaking skills would be required for President but a large group of people thought otherwise.
Thanks

KL

[prolesunited]

50. I'm a woman from a blue-collar background

so how would you explain my dislike of her?

She is different from the others because she clearly lacks the intellectual capacity of the others. This stinks of cronyism in the same mold of the Brown appointment.

I don't think unqualified candidates should be advanced without merit just because of their race or gender. If you want to pick a woman, pick one that's more qualified.

I support affirmative action, but you need to start with equally qualified candidates. I do not like Roberts as chief justice, but I his intellectual capacity is obvious. If Bush wants a woman, at least pick one of the same caliber.

[ClintonTyree]

83. Well said........

I was going to say about the same thing except I'm a blue collar male. The claim of sexism still wouldn't have been addressed from my POV. I'm glad you said this as it lends credence to the fact that sexism isn't the problem (at least from our POV, I can't speak for the Slugs), it's cronyism. Miers association with bush would recuse her from so many possible cases involving decisions from the bush administration she would be next to useless.

[WinkyDink]

76. Bush made her incompetence the issue.

It ISN'T that she's a FEMALE; it's that she's a TOADY. A KISS-ASS. A virtual SLAVE to Bush's every whim.

If he had a man he could count on for that, maybe we'd be talking about him.
But Bush knows the psychology and hence advantages of elevating a Miss Moneypenny.

[sniffa]

29. mmmmm burger

[yellowcanine]

31. Warren Burger??? I have never heard anyone hold Warren Burger

up as a great SCOTUS Justice, liberal or conservative. And why would she refer to Burger as Warren? She isn't likely to have known him personnally. Seems kind of goofy.

[sniffa]

37. homer simpson Loves the guy

[kskiska]

38. Kind of like * when faced with a pop quiz

and the radio host asked him who the leader of Pakistan was, and he replied, "General…"

When Andy Hiller, the political correspondent for WHDH-TV in Boston, had George W. Bush in front of a camera on Wednesday, he asked the Texas governor if he could name the president of Chechnya. Bush could not. Nor could he name the general who recently took power in Pakistan or the new prime minister of India. Bush only answered one of the four questions correctly when he identified the president of Taiwan as "Lee."

What made the Q&A worse for Bush was that he responded to the questions with petulance. Rather than explaining that he is a big-picture guy and calmly providing a strategic vision of U.S. foreign policy concerning these areas, he shot back at the reporter.

"Can you name the foreign minister of Mexico?" Bush asked, apparently proud that he knew the answer. Hiller reasonably replied that he was not the one running for president.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/11/05/bush/

[PuraVidaDreamin]

58. Woah- That looks like life time appointment then, doesn't it?

When will this nightmare be over?

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

33. Arlen Specter may be her biggest hurdle...if she is unqualified

If nothing else, Specter is well versed in the law and will have very little tolerance for sub par answers. He could vote 'no' during the judicial committee if she can't answer basic questions on constitutional law. IMHO.

If she gets voted down, prepare for a top-tier ivy league wingnut.:scared:

[JerseygirlCT]

36. I agree with you

I think the no's will be surprising to some -- the usually very sober ones, and the ones who usually say they give a huge benefit of the doubt to the president's choice.

She just doesn't seem to pass the initial "qualified" test.

[MADem]

46. I'm thinking it will be Alberto Gonzalez

I think monkey might abandon his WOMAN strategery at that point--maybe not, but he might consider it. Priscilla Owens and Janice Rodgers Brown are the next females in line, and they are both lightning rods.

Maybe he will slide "Harry" into the AG slot if they push Alberto forward....

[Brooklyn Michael]

40. Loyal....stupid....thinks Bush is brilliant....

My god...could there be a MORE perfect example of a Freeper?

[Judi Lynn]

45. Maybe she's a heavy drinker:doesn't spend much time sober..... n/t

[Javaman]

41. What we are seeing here is a first class freep fundie...

And it's one thing for a person to complain about the ignorance of a fundie office mate, but it's entirely different when the nation sees a ignorant fundie freep put up against public opinion. She is a reflection of the mind set that controls this nation. I think this is waking people up to the face that it ain't pretty. She is the poster child for everything that is wrong with the leadership* of this country.

[Kenergy]

51. I wonder what O'Connor thinks about her n/t

[Radio_Lady]

91. Well, they may have the same equipment "downstairs"... but

O'Conner is better equipped "upstairs," in the brain area --

[sonicx]

52. No wonder she thinks Bush is the most brilliant man she's ever met

[fujiyama]

53. I don't think she'll think too much for herself

on the court.

I think she'll just do whatever Scalia and Thomas do. I don't have high hopes for Roberts, but I think he might be like Kennedy, a right leaning swing vote.

[progressivepolitics]

54. What I can't understand

Is why did Reid and Schumur come out in, at leat tepid, support of her.

This is why Bush will finally fall to his "demise". We should rejoice. He has pissed his base off.

[Gronk Groks]

94. Shhh...That is why Reid came out for her...

...he knew it was the kiss of death.

Harry is ALOT smarter than he looks. He didn't become the Senate Minority Leader by being dumb. He plays political chess better than many men his senior.

Cordial and mild manner though he may appear, the guy has a core of steel. And yes, he can look you in the eye and smile while plotting how to gut you later.

Underestimating Harry Reid is a BAD idea...

[lumberingbear]

56. Can't wait to watch confirmation hearings

Should be quite entertaining to watch the questions and the answers.
:popcorn:

[Skinner]

57. Oh. My. God.

Un-fucking-believable.

[delhurgo]

60. This has been debunked.

It was a case of her being interrupted before she had a chance to finish her answer.

And people thinking that she's stupid are going way overboard. I don't agree with her judicial philosophy, but I have no doubt that she's quite intelligent and will show that during the hearings.

Lets not get carried away here.

[Skinner]

66. It has been debunked?

Where? Has the Post issued a correction or something?

[janx]

67. ...

;-)

[delhurgo]

71. Yeah, yeah, I know it s from National Review, but

doesn't this seem more likely:

"Miers was asked about Justices she admired. She responded that she admired different Justices for different reasons, including Warren — interrupted by Senator Leahy — Burger for his administrative skills.

Reasonable people could ask whether Burger was a great administrator, but the comment is taken out of context by the Washington Post. Miers didn't express admiration for his jurisprudence."

http://bench.nationalreview.com/archives/078890.asp

[Skinner]

73. Hmmm.

I kinda think that the fact that the alleged "debunking" came from the National Review might have been a relevant fact here.

And, since you asked... No, I don't think that their version of events seems more likely.

[janx]

61. Especially the likes of Mehlman!

Good God!

[janx]

62. She's doomed.

Graham said Miers's challenge will be to "create a comfort level" with conservatives that she shares their strict-constructionist approach to interpreting the Constitution, while convincing the public that she is not biased by her evangelical Christian faith and is qualified for the lifetime post, despite her lack of judicial experience.

The fundies want a bible thumper. The moderates won't have it. She's hosed.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

64. She values loyalty above all, says Christian leader

Richard D. Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. He said his fellow Texans Bush and Miers value loyalty and courage above all, adding: "If she were to rule in ways that are contrary to the way the president would want her to rule, it would be a deep personal betrayal."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/06/AR2005100601713.html

[janx]

65. CHECK THIS OUT!

Paul Weyrich...

The next nominee: More will be revealed


The White House called about 45 minutes before the President on national television announced his choice for the Supreme Court. We had heard the week before that Harriet Miers was one of three people under serious consideration. The problem was no one knew much about her. We subsequently were told that she attended an Evangelical Church in Dallas, which had strong views on social issues. Still, as I told the White House, the nomination comes down to "trust me" from the President. I explained that I had witnessed five trust-me pleas regarding Presidential nominees for the Supreme Court and none has worked out right.

Senator Gordon L. Allott, for whom I worked when President Richard M. Nixon nominated Circuit Judge Harry A. Blackmun, had some problems with the Blackmum record. As a member of the Senate Leadership who visited the White House weekly, Senator Allott mentioned his concern to the President. Nixon told Allott, Trust me. Harry Blackmun will turn out to be a carbon copy of Warren E. Burger. My guess is the President said that because he knew Senator Allott and Chief Justice Burger were good friends. Anyway, the Stevens appointment didn't quite turn out that way.

I also recall President Gerald R. Ford reassuring Senator James A. McClure that Judge John Paul Stevens was a good Republican and would vote like a good Republican. Maybe that is Ford's idea of how a good Republican would vote. It certainly is not mine. And then there was the Kenneth Starr memo asking us to trust the Reagan White House. Sandra Day O'Connor was a conservative Republican, so the memo contended. Addah Jane Hurst, then Free Congress Foundation Chairman, alleged that Starr had misrepresented the truth.

Then there was the White House Conference call with Anthony M. Kennedy's priest who assured the Reagan White House that Kennedy's strong Catholic upbringing would cause him to vote right on social issues. The Kennedy appointment hasn't quite worked out that way.

More at link:

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/weyrich/051007

[Independent_Liberal]

97. Kick!

[volitionx]

72. She's Being Nominated To Cover Bush's ASS

That's what the whole point of her nomination is...

DAMAGE CONTROL in the event of a future impeachment trial or other legal hassles for Bush the War Criminal and Fascist.

[GinaMaria]

90. anyone his appoints would serve that purpose

he wouldn't appoint anyone who didn't pass his loyalty test.

[Bucky]

75. "Harriet, who's your favorite president?" "William. But also John."

I think we should give Miers a break here. I'll bet you'd be nervous too, if it were also your first time talking with a bunch of grown ups about, you know, important stuff. In her favor the point also oughta be made that mediocrity ought to be represented on the Supreme Court too, especially now that Clarence is about to graduate from night school.

This president never ceases to amaze me with his lameness. But at least this fuck up won't get anybody killed.

[Catt03]

86. Personally, I think she is being beat up too much

She has been attacked from every personal angle: looks, age, intellect and sexual identity.

This is not Harriet Mier's fault. The problem is that of George Bush and his arrogance in knowing that he can and will appoint anyone he damn well wants, regardless of qualification.

[GinaMaria]

89. How is she any different than any other bush nominee?

unqualified... check
ignorant.... check
there to do bush's bidding.... check

Why are the cons suddenly up in arms over this one?

[shanti]

92. geez, why didn't she just turn him down when he offered her the job??

how in the heck does SHE even think that she's qualified?

[Name removed]

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